African Club Championship: ‘Automatic Ticket Good For Nigeria’

Former Nigerian National team coach and member of Executive Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Mr. Agboola Pinheiro says the automatic qualification afforded First Bank and First Deepwater, both clubs based in Lagos, by FIBA Africa into the final round of the African Club Championship may be a blessing in disguise for the teams.

The basketball governing body on the continent, FIBA Africa, on Wednesday awarded automatic tickets to both Nigerian representatives at this year’s edition of African Club Championship, First Bank and First Deepwater.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Media Officer, Segun Ikuesan said the automatic tickets were awarded the tickets because the other participating clubs at the African Club Championship Elimination tourney that waas billed for the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, failed to attend the tourney.

Reflecting on the significance of the automatic tickets, Pinheiro said it is an opportunity for the Nigerian teams to begin intensive training to enable them raise formidable teams for the task ahead.

He said: “I think it is a good develoment for both First Bank and First Deepwater.They will have to seize the opportunity and begin to play grade A friendly matches ahead of the championship now that the elimination tourney has been cancelled.

“The elimination tourney would have afforded them an opportunity to test their might and see how the new players they had intended to sign on to reinforce their team will perform.

“But now, the only way they can put themselves in good shape is by playing matches against clubs sides that can give them a tatse of what to expect at the African Club Championship.”

Pinheiro commended the decision of the Nigerian representatives to add foreign-based players to their teams, adding however that it should not be at the detriment of the home based players.

“Adding foreign-based players to their team is a laudable step but that does not mean they should drop those local players that got them the continental ticket in the first place. I will advise them to only get new players for their weak positions,” the former Union Bank coach said.